Sydney welcomes news of overpass

SYDNEY — One of Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s busiest intersections is about to undergo some major changes.

The province confirmed Thursday that it will build an overpass, estimated to cost up to $1.8 million, adjacent to Upper Prince Street in Sydney.

That’s in addition to a $3.5-million roundabout to be constructed at the intersection of the Sydney Port Access Road, Highway 125 and Grand Lake Road.

The municipality’s $4.5-million multi-use path is currently under construction. That project features a three-metre wide asphalt trail that will start in Reserve Mines, continue past Cape Breton University and end at the Mayflower Mall.

“It’s a progressive decision that sort of puts us on the cutting edge of active transportation,” Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said of the overpass.

“This is something that is proactive, as opposed to being reactive.”

The Glace Bay MLA acknowledged there are pressing eco-nomic challenges in the province, but the overpass is important for promoting active lifestyles in an area often reliant on motor vehicle transportation.

It will allow cyclists and pedestrians to avoid navigating the roundabout. Plans for the roundabout include a sidewalk and link to the trail.

“I really do think it will encourage outdoor activities and active transportation,” said MacLellan.

“Obviously, we’ve got our economic challenges and we’ve got to do our best to keep families home and promote economic development activity, but this is kind of a social infrastructure investment that is equally important for some families.”

Brian Ward, director of highway engineering services with the Transportation Department, said the roundabout is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015.

As for the overpass, Ward said the province is still in the early planning stages of the project.

“Once we get it designed, then we’ll focus on getting it tendered and constructed.”

The news of an overpass was welcomed by Andree Crepeau, a cyclist and former member of the municipality’s active transportation committee.

“The roundabout and the overpass is the better way to go,” said Crepeau.

“I talk to cyclists a lot … and they say the only problem is that intersection. If you want to encourage people to use active transportation, they have to feel safe, and people don’t feel safe in that intersection.

“That intersection is one of the major hubs in the active transportation plan for the municipality, so without a safe way to negotiate that intersection, it really put a crimp on the ability for people to cycle.”

The province also announced Thursday that it will open a recently constructed roundabout at George Street, off Highway 125, on Sunday at 6 p.m.